Slow Food Oahu is part of the international Slow Food association that promotes food and wine culture, and also defends food and agricultural biodiversity worldwide.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

SLOW FOOD OAHU PRESENTS A FILM SERIES AND MINI FOOD TASTING FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABILITY

SFO is proud to sponsor a free film series.Two dates. Two films each day. Two opportunities at the Hawaii State Art Museum to envision what sustainability means for Hawaii.

Saturday, January 20, 11:15 am - 1:15 pmLOWER ORDERSFARMING THE SEASSaturday, February 17, 11:15 am - 1:15 pmTURTLE WORLDAFFLUENZALocal and sustainable Mini food tasting by Ed Kenney of TOWN.Hawaii State Art Museum1 Hotel Street (cor. Richard Street and Hotel)Free ... No reservationsIn this series of films, Slow Food Oahu presents four views on the subject of sustainability of our resources and lifestyles. These films reflect on the future of our planet and the fate of the human race if we ignore the consequences of wasteful practices. These films provide valuable insights into the importance of sustainable living on isolated islands. Our island home and its unique geographic location provide a good experiment for the benefits of sustainable living. Oahu is a microcosm of the world and the collapse of our local economy and environment occur with greater rates as a direct result of size and distance. Hawaii is the world's most isolated landmass and is overly dependent on imported goods for our survival. Modifying our economy to embrace a more self-sufficient existence will create a better future for all our residents.January 20thLower Ordersis a humorous, animated look at the food chain. An eclectic group of insects feeds off the garbage of a restaurant and try to invade the dining room ... until they find they are food for another creature.

Farming the seasinvestigates the viability of the global food chain and the sustainability of the oceans' fisheries. Market demand for seafood exceeds the ocean's ability to keep pace and the crisis is deepening. Aquaculture was intended to take the pressure off wild fish stocks and help avert a global food shortage. Many experts now believe some forms of fish farming are creating more problems than they are solving. Farming the seas explores what's at stake for all of us. As the aquaculture industry explodes across the globe, a growing number of communities and fisheries experts are engaged in an intense debate over its environmental, socio-economic, and health and food safety consequences. Farming the seas gathers perspectives from around the globe as it examines the problems as well as promises of this emerging industry.

February 17thTurtle worldis a silent short that is a powerful allegory about the survivability of Homo sapiens. In this highly acclaimed animated film, a lone sea turtle travels through space, her breath creating a whole new atmosphere. This becomes filled with forests, rivers, mountains and enterprising monkeys ... so enterprising that they are forced to learn about sustainability the hard way.

The final film, Affluenza, diagnoses the "disease" of materialism and prescribes it antidote, simple living. Consumerism, commercialism, and rampant materialism is having a devastating impact on our families, communities, and environment. We have more stuff, but less time, and our quality of life seems to be deteriorating. The program ends with a prescription for affluenza. A growing number of people are choosing "voluntary simplicity" ... working and shopping less, spending more time with friends and family, volunteering in their communities, and enjoying their lives more.

Last, but not least, these two screening dates will be paired with a food tasting by Ed Kenney, chef/owner of TOWN restaurant. Kenney has been instrumental in the Slow Food movement on Oahu, and his motto says it all, "Local first, organic wherever possible, with Aloha always". True to form, Kenney promises these tastings will use local, sustainably harvested foods.